Scilly Cay

Scilly Cay is not just a beach - it is one of Anguilla's most beloved institutions. A tiny private coral cay just a two-minute boat ride from the Island Harbour pier, Scilly Cay has been run by the Wallace family since 1985, and in that time has become one of the Caribbean's most celebrated lunch destinations and one of Anguilla's most defining experiences. Founder Eudoxie Wallace, who passed away in 2017 after three decades at the helm, is greatly missed; today his family continues to run the island with the same warmth, simplicity, and quality that made it legendary.

The cay is tiny - just 200 square metres - and the restaurant is the only thing on it. There is no electricity on Scilly Cay, which means everything is grilled fresh over an open fire and all dining is done outdoors. No air conditioning, no pretension: just the sound of the sea, the smell of the grill, and plates of grilled lobster, crayfish, and fish arriving at your table straight from Island Harbour fishermen who deliver their catch fresh each morning.

The menu is beautifully simple: grilled lobster, grilled crayfish (indigenous to Anguilla), grilled whole snapper in foil with garlic butter, grilled half chicken in Sandra's secret sauce, brown sugar pork ribs, fresh fish, and a combo option. The rum punch is legendary - potent, tropical, and smooth, described by visitors as one of the best in the Caribbean. Entrees begin from approximately $25.

Scilly Cay is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from noon to 5pm. Live reggae music plays on Sundays, and house beats on Wednesday and Thursday. The ferry from Island Harbour pier costs $5 round-trip - wave from the dock and the boat will come to you in minutes. A $35 per person round-trip shuttle is also available from the West End. Private boats and charter vessels can dock at the 3–4 ft draft dock or land on the small sandy beach. For those who really want to arrive in style: Scilly Cay is the only offshore restaurant in the Eastern Caribbean with its own helipad.

After lunch, spend the afternoon swimming in the clear, calm water surrounding the cay. The reef around the island is one of the best snorkeling spots accessible from Island Harbour - bring your own gear, as nothing is available to rent on the cay. The waters around Scilly Cay support rays, turtles, colorful reef fish, and lobsters in the grass beds and reef structures offshore. Games, a volleyball net, and gazebos for shade are available on the cay for an unhurried afternoon.

Scilly Cay is also available for private events: weddings, celebrations, and retreats, day or night.

Located in Island Harbour, Anguilla, Scilly Cay is a strong choice for travelers looking for Snorkeling, Family, and Food Nearby. Its current beach profile highlights excellent.